Discipleship Bases
Discipleship Bases
사역지
PROJECT OVERVIEW
Work with and visit individual base leaders to provide them with the resources to evangelize and disciple NKs in China, Russia, SE Asia and wherever NKs are found. Resources include discipleship training materials, New Testaments, MP3 players, medicine and ministry packs. Our discipleship bases model tenets of Christian faith for trainees to repeat and replicate among their family members and friends.
MINISTRY CONDITIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES
China revised their anti-espionage law so that it further cracks down on all foreigners within China, even those there for non-religious humanitarian aid work. In fact, the laws even restrict the activity of North Korean intelligence agents operating in China by limiting their ability to make contact with Chinese nationals.
Dr. Foley meets with a UNKCM partner.
In conjunction with these efforts, the China government has also become increasingly active in repatriating North Korean defectors, especially those defectors considered by Chinese authorities to be likely to flee to South Korea. Conversely, multiple sources from VOMK’s discipleship base leader network have confirmed that local governments have been working to provide documentation and residency status to North Korean defectors who have settled in China provided that they live their lives and engage in religious activities only amongst themselves, making sure especially not to associate with foreigners or ethnically Korean Chinese citizens.
These new restrictions may severely limit the work of some humanitarian aid and Christian organizations who employ foreign missionaries and ministers or who are focused on helping North Korean defectors flee to South Korea. But due to VOMK’s ministry philosophy, these restrictions pose no threat to our ministry. In fact, it may provide an opportunity for VOM Korea to thrive even more, having been distinguished from the mission and humanitarian aid work of other organizations.
That is because VOMK is not a mission organization sending foreign missionaries to China to engage in mission work among North Koreans. VOMK’s role is to support indigenous Christians to continue to make a faithful witness in the midst of persecution by providing Bibles, discipleship training, and other materials. Therefore, VOMK supports North Koreans in reaching other North Koreans wherever they are found and is less affected by laws designed to limit the activity of foreigners. Even UU mission trips are about North Koreans reaching other North Koreans.
In accordance with 1 Corinthians 7:12-24, VOMK does not encourage North Koreans to flee from North Korea or China. Instead, VOMK provides them with the discipleship training and resources to be able to witness to their family and friends wherever the Lord has already placed them. This is true even for sex-trafficked North Korean women living in China. Although their situation is devastating and it would seem like the humane thing to do to help them escape to freedom in South Korea, VOMK encourages them to stay with their families in China and focus on preaching the Gospel to their husbands, children, and neighbors.
We have found that those who choose to leave their families and pursue freedom in South Korea often suffer from depression in their never-ending quest for self-fulfillment in South Korea and extreme regret at having broken their family in China by leaving. Some even commit suicide. But those who choose to stay to disciple and care for their families are often commended and protected by local police who know that their faith is what causes them to contribute to familial and communal stability. Therefore, the ministry of our discipleship bases are less affected by laws designed to punish those who would flee to South Korea because VOMK largely encourages NKs to stay put and be faithful.
Please Pray With Us For The Following Requests
함께 기도해주십시오
- Pray for NK underground Christians who share the Gospel inside NK – During this time where NK continues to be afflicted by food shortages and other difficulties, please pray for NK underground Christians who cling to hope in Christ. Pray for their witness of that hope to their neighbors.
- Pray for Outreach to NK Laborers in Foreign Countries – Please pray for our base leaders who work to evangelize and disciple NK laborers in foreign countries. Such interactions are dangerous both for the base leaders and for the NK laborers. Please pray for boldness in the gospel and for the Lord’s protection.